Wheat germination looking good in Morgan County

Recent moisture made difference

Winter wheat growers are pretty happy with recent precipitation, which has allowed seeds to germinate and sprout.

Before the most recent snowstorm, the area had been suffering from the drought that lasted all summer, worrying growers that their wheat crops might not sprout before full winter hit.

But that snow dropped more than an inch of moisture, not just snow, which has made all the difference.

"The wheat is looking real good this year," said extension agent Marlin Eisenach. About 98 percent of what was planted has germinated, even dryland wheat.

"We're kind of excited about it," said wheat grower Fred Midcap, who farms in the western part of Morgan County.

That corner of the county has very good conditions for both the crop and moisture, he said. The area had about two inches of moisture fall since planting in September. Before that, the levels of moisture were a concern, since fields amounted to about five or six inches of dry dirt.

Thankfully, the area had about three days of cool weather along with precipitation, allowing the new water to merge with existing subsoil moisture and replenish the soil, Midcap said. However, the crop will have to live off that unless more precipitation comes.

Midcap said he did not think his crop has suffered from any soil erosion from winds.

He also said that his summer crop had the best overall average yield of any crop he's had. That crop depended on the snow moisture that accumulated before the drought hit.

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According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, about 94 percent of Colorado winter wheat emerged by the end of last week. That's a little lower than the five-year average, but no one is complaining.

Drought conditions continued last week as the state had below-average precipitation and above average temperatures. High winds did raise concerns about the conditions of the crop, especially fears of wind erosion, NASS says.

Soil moisture ratings show extremely dry conditions persist. Only 15 percent of fields were reported to have adequate top soil moisture, with 46 percent short of moisture and 39 percent very short. Only 7 percent of fields had adequate subsoil moisture, with 34 percent short and 59 percent very short. Those figures are almost the opposite of last year.

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